Happy birthday SS Rajamouli: From Baahubali to Eega, 5 films that make him ‘baap of all directors’

1. Sye

The 2004 film is arguably the best sports film ever made in Telugu. The film is based on the two rival gangs in a college who use rugby games to settle their personal scores. However, they eventually let go of their differences and unite to play a rugby match against a group of thugs led by a maverick villain who is out to destroy their college.

2.Chatrapathi

The action drama is about an oppressed individual who rises against all odds to become the saviour of a group of displaced Sir Lankans in Vizag port, which is exploited by local rowdies. The film was a runaway hit and also cemented the position of actor Prabhas as one of the leading action heroes in Telugu. It was later remade in Tamil, Kannada and Bengali.

3.Magadheera

It is only fair to say that this 2009 romantic-action film made Ram Charan Teja a bankable actor in Tollywood after his 2007 debut Chirutha failed at the box office. The film is a love story of a bike stuntman who remembers his past life as a warrior and pursues his love and revenge in the present life. The film also showed Rajamouli’s talent in making period films. The film emerged as the biggest box office blockbuster of that year. The director was widely appreciated for use of special effects in the film.

4.Eega

It is a landmark film, and not just in Rajamouli’s career. The 2012 fantasy drama again deals with the idea of reincarnation. Murdered by his lover’s stalker, a man is reincarnated as a house fly and seeks to avenge his own death besides protecting his lover. Needless to say, the film was a major box office hit and was dubbed in many languages.

5.Baahubali: The Beginning

This 2015 two-part epic film pushed the envelope in filmmaking in the country to a whole new level. It was made at a whopping budget of Rs 250 crore, the costliest Indian film so far. While the film earned Rs 500 crore in four weeks, it made its first Rs 100 crore in 35 hours, a new box office record in India. It was also the first Hindi dubbed film to join the Bollywood’s elite Rs 100 crore club.

The film deals with a family feud between two siblings who aspire to succeed to the throne of Mahishmati kingdom. The film ended on a cliffhanger, ensuring an earth-shattering repose for its second part, Baahuballi: The Conclusion, which is set to hit the screens early next year.